Traveling and studying literature in England opened my eyes to what could be. I was able to control where I went, what I saw, and who I met. I grew as an observer; as a result, I wanted to record as much as possible so that I could be the eyes for those who couldn’t join me.
Ironically, as I explored a rather unstable foreign country, my mind felt more at peace than it ever had before. There was something in my thoughts that told me, “You have got to do this now, or you can never truly come home again.”
Interacting in small towns such as Warwick, Oxford, and Stratford-Upon-Avon gifted me with the best scenery. I’ve put together an illustrated version of all of the highlights of my trip below. I hope you enjoy!
Our first glimpse of England was a breathtaking one. The land and neighborhoods were dispersed in irregular patterns; they were definitely different from the rhythmic grids we’re used to in the States.The Underground is London’s public mode of transportation. It reminded me of a more efficient New York subway.Westminster Abbey is the home to the graves of several well-known writers such as Jane Austen, William Wordsworth, Alfred Lord Tennyson, and the Bronte sisters. Scientists such as Charles Darwin are also buried in this church. Although no pictures were allowed inside, the feeling of sacredness stayed with me even after I left those corridors.Of course, Big Ben watched over us as we explored London.This was taken inside the Globe Theater (a world famous performing arts centre), of which I had the honor of returning to twice. I saw renditions of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night as well as Romeo and Juliet.The Rosetta Stone inside the British Museum in London. It is an artifact responsible for allowing us to finally understand Egyptian Hieroglyphics.
Runnymede, the meadow in which the Magna Carta was signed.Windsor Castle: chalk-full of history and also acts as the Queen’s Summer home. (To our surprise, a few people in our group spotted Princess Kate near the walls of the castle).A lovely area within Anne Hathaway’s cottage’s garden. Anne Hathaway was William Shakespeare’s wife. By visiting here, we were able to catch glimpses of what life during Shakespeare’s time was like.The Martyrs’ Memorial in Oxford commemorates the deaths of three Anglican bishops during the period of Queen “Bloody Mary’s” reign. They were executed in the square for their faith.Christ’s Church’s garden within Oxford. The colors here were breathtaking.A gorgeous view of Oxford atop University Church of St. Mary the Virgin’s tower. We climbed so many flights of stairs up a tiny, winding structure.The Eagle and Child Pub was where C.S Lewis (author of the Chronicles of Narnia) and J.R.R Tolkein (author of the Lord of the Rings) spent hours discussing story ideas and philosophy.C.S Lewis’ quaint home.William Shakespeare’s grave within Holy Trinity Church. The air was heavy with a sort of awe and sadness.The medieval Warwick castle was developed from an original built in 1068 by William the Conqueror. The castle surrounded the small town of Warwick, as well as our hotel.This is a photo of the astounding Tintern Abbey, which was a monastery dating back to the 10th century. We actually had to travel to Wales to get here. (I would have spent days in Wales if I could).Standing inside the monastery, with the mountains looming behind the large window frames, I just had a feeling that a higher power stood with us.Last photo of Tintern Abbey, I promise.The ancient Roman Baths in the lively city of Bath. Musicians were scattered across the streets; you couldn’t help but feel happy here.More Roman baths with the original, ancient statues standing guard atop the edifice.Buckingham Palace, home of the Queen.We witnessed the changing of the guards from Buckingham Palace; it is a summer daily ritual in which scores of horses, guards, and a marching band occupy the streets for a few minutes of each day.
In total, I ended up taking over five hundred photos. Looking back, I’m glad that I did.
Let me know if you have memories traveling, or have photos to share! I’d love to see them and hear about them.
It was lovely seeing what you selected to take pics of, Hannah. Your comment about the irregular field shapes struck me, as I just take them for granted living here in the UK. Cheers!
You have a way of making the people see the beauty of the world through your lens. I don’t have to travel to England, at least not now. I am doing that with you already. Smiles. Nice one. Thank you for sharing.
2B or Not 2B 
It was lovely seeing what you selected to take pics of, Hannah. Your comment about the irregular field shapes struck me, as I just take them for granted living here in the UK. Cheers!
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Thank you so much for reading. The organizational patterns are definitely interesting. 🙂
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You have a way of making the people see the beauty of the world through your lens. I don’t have to travel to England, at least not now. I am doing that with you already. Smiles. Nice one. Thank you for sharing.
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Thank you so much, Whitney. That means so much to me. 🙂 Thank you for reading!
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You are most welcome
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